“Please, do not finish that thought, Miss Romanova.” Carter throws a look over her shoulder. When she looks back up at Natasha, shrouded under lashes and calculating in a way only Natasha can appreciate, Natasha smiles slow.

“And don’t you start yours, Miss Carter.” She smiles again and lets it drip off her face. “I know what’s next out of that pretty mouth. I don’t want to hear it.”

She turns away, then turns back faster than Carter can catch, slides her arm around Carter’s waist. For all her show, Carter still gasps, her fingers curving, catching on Natasha’s sleeve, not pushing away.

“Don’t you want to see me later, sugar?”

Carter pushes. “Aren’t you skipping town?” When she looks up, there’s fire in her eyes. The same one that made Natasha break her rules. “It’s not my first trip downtown.”

Natasha lets go of her, meets her steady gaze. “I’ll stay if I have a reason, Slim.” She slides her hand back in her glove, turns to look at Carter over her shoulder. “You know where I’ll be if you want to give me one.”

“I’m sure I have no idea.” Carter’s got her hand on the doorknob. Natasha has to scram. Carter doesn’t know yet where she wants to land when this deal falls.